The National Sports Commission (NSC), Cycling Federation of Nigeria (CFN) and British Cycling Association have agreed on a collaborative framework to prepare Team Nigeria cyclists for the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

As part of the agreement, Nigerian cyclists will train in Manchester ahead of the Games.

This is contained in a statement by NSC Director of Information, Kehinde Ajayi, made available to newsmen on Wednesday in Abuja.

The partnership, Ajayi said, focuses on developing cycling in Nigeria, promoting fair competition in both Olympic and Paralympic events, and using cycling as a tool for social impact.

The director quoted the NSC Chairman, Mallam Shehu Dikko, as expressing delight at the collaboration and assured the delegation of the commission’s full support.

“Our job is to provide enablers for sports development in the country. We will make the soil fertile for well-meaning initiatives like this to thrive,” he said.

Dikko also said that cycling remained an integral part of daily life in Nigeria and called for efforts to make the sport less elitist by expanding access at the grassroots level.

“Cycling is often seen as elitist, but that is not the case. We must take the sport to schools and communities and allow the people to own it,” Dikko said.

Also, the NSC Director-General, Mr. Bukola Olopade, reaffirmed the commission’s commitment to advancing cycling due to its sporting and social value.

He said: ‘’Cycling will be one of the sports featured at the Glasgow Commonwealth Games and Nigeria has strong prospects in the discipline.

“I immediately contacted the Cycling Federation of Nigeria and our Elite Athletes Development and Podium Board, and we agreed to include cycling among the sports Nigeria will compete in at the Games.’’

Olopade described the CFN as one of the most vibrant sports federations in the country, noting that the collaboration with the British Cycling Association would further strengthen the sport.